Math Doesn't Suck: How to Survive Middle School Math Without Losing Your Mind or Breaking a Nail
by Danica McKellar
book data
111 ratings,
4.09
average rating, 52 reviews
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published
July 1st 2008
(first published 2007)
by Plume
binding
Paperback, 320 pages
isbn
0452289491
(isbn13: 9780452289499)
description
The runaway national bestseller, now in paperback
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 213)
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avg 4.09
editions: all | this edition
editions: all | this edition
Read in September, 2008
I enjoyed reading this book and the humor that the author put into explaining math concepts. This book is definitely written for the female persuasion as most of the examples pertain to buying nail polish, shopping (sales and percents off), comparing boyfriends (finding greatest common factor), making beaded friendship bracelets (factoring), etc.
I found most of the material in 3/4 of this book 5th grade level math. Factoring, fractions, adding with common denominators, finding co...more
I found most of the material in 3/4 of this book 5th grade level math. Factoring, fractions, adding with common denominators, finding co...more
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9 comments
Read in January, 2008
Ok, so like you've seen this drop-dead gorgeous dress at a boutique and it costs $62. Well, you've only got $50 bucks...what's a girl to do???
You wait 'til it goes on sale! Ok, so like the boutique is having a 1/5 off and no tax sale, yippee!! But do you have enough money to get the dress of your dreams?? Let's find out...
Danica McKellar uses practical stories like these to make math a necessity for living, even when you're a middle school girl. Her mathematic tips are ea...more
You wait 'til it goes on sale! Ok, so like the boutique is having a 1/5 off and no tax sale, yippee!! But do you have enough money to get the dress of your dreams?? Let's find out...
Danica McKellar uses practical stories like these to make math a necessity for living, even when you're a middle school girl. Her mathematic tips are ea...more
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2 comments
recommends it for:
many middle, and even high school, girls
While part of me is a good bit disturbed by all of the "girly-ness" (and my junior high self would be completely insulted), I would, and likely will, promote this book. It is a fact that many girls (and boys as well) are all tied up in the world that they are told is supposed to be theirs - makeup, celebrities, shopping, waxing(?!?), etc. I think this book could do a nice job of reaching those girls who could care less for something if it didn't involve these things.
McKell...more
McKell...more
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I'm not a middle-school student by a long shot--I'm a woman in her late 20s with a lifelong fear of math--but found this book to be a refreshing refresher course. Is it silly? You betcha! Did I skip the quizzes and wince at some of the examples? Yes and yes. But it's also encouraging and it works. I read through the whole thing in a couple of days, will probably go back and do some of the "homework".
I have a recurring nightmare in which I haven't passed my high school math...more
I have a recurring nightmare in which I haven't passed my high school math...more
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Though I'm sure he won't tell his friends, my math-averse 11-yr old son and I are working through this book and finding it tremendously helpful. The material is very well organized, is explained succinctly and intelligently, and the annoying shopping stuff is easily ignored.
I know my son's not the target audience, and I'm sure many girls appreciate a book tailored specially for them (I was a tom boy and would have hated it). And a "boy version" would have been just as irr...more
I know my son's not the target audience, and I'm sure many girls appreciate a book tailored specially for them (I was a tom boy and would have hated it). And a "boy version" would have been just as irr...more
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I actually had to pony up Real Cash to get this, as my library doesn't have it yet. Hrm. I've heard raves about this, but it seems too girly even for me (Horoscopes? Really necessary?) and I tend to the girl end of the spectrum when it comes to books. But I have kids learning math right now--not middle school yet, but I didn't do so well in math (actually did well, but didn't go beyond basic high school math), so I need to get prepared for that.
It really says something about my d...more
It really says something about my d...more
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2 comments
06/11/09
Lynn
is currently reading it
My daughter, Lennon, and I have added this book to our summer activities. She is not enthused with the prospect but I do not want her forgetting all she learned in the fourth grade over the summer break.
The author, Danica McKellar, was interviewed on a NPR program recently and she so sold me on her book.
The author, Danica McKellar, was interviewed on a NPR program recently and she so sold me on her book.
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Read in January, 2009
This would have been five stars had I been 11 years old. But I thought I had to at least give it a look since I (1) loved the Wonder Years and (2) love math. She did a really good job putting things into terms that, I think, would be understandable to people struggling. The only criticism is that everything was either "boys boys boys" or "shopping shopping shopping." However, maybe if I were 11 again, that might hold more appeal. But surprisingly, she's a good writer.
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This is, like, TOE-tally written for junior high girls who just, like, don't get math. Since junior high was my mathematics trainwreck, I decided to pick this up and see if it would help me finally understand what I, like, SOOOOOOoooo didn't get back then. The cover looks like a teen magazine. There's a lot in there about how it's okay to be a smart girl. Really. Boys will still like you. And then there's the math stuff. I finally understand functions and other math concepts that never made AN...more
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Danica McKellar's books are such a gift for the math challenged like me -- especially when you are teaching it to a sixth grader.
The books are geared to teen girls, but she breaks things down with such a common sense approach that everyone will get something from it.
The books are geared to teen girls, but she breaks things down with such a common sense approach that everyone will get something from it.
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"OMG", I thought as I walked down the hallway to math class. It was mid-year, in 7th grade. I was about to get my math test back... which I probably failed. If you get this feeling right before you get every math test back, then this book is perfect for you. Even kids in their early high school years may find this book useful because it takes middle school math and puts it into a way the middle school kids (and high school kids) can understand. This book is for anyone but it specifical...more
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While I'm not crazy about the title, the content is quite good. Danica relates a number of math topics to shopping and boys, which are often on the minds of middle-school age girls. Chapters are organized by topic and include practice problems as well.
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Read in September, 2007
recommends it for:
middle school girls, their parents and math teachers
Yes, girls can do math. Danika McKellar (the actress who played Winnie in "The Wonder Years" T.V. show) grew up and earned a degree in Mathematics from UCLA. She wrote this book to help middle school girls understand that they can be girls and also be good at math. Full of fun analogies that young girls can relate to -- for example, improper fractions are like sneakers while mixed numbers are like high heals, (you use improper fractions to do most everything, but if you want to prese...more
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Read in March, 2009
Good book. Not like my fav pick ever, but it did help me with some of my math, and there were some interesting stories about Danica's experiences!
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Since I am considering becoming a JH or HS math teacher, I figured this is probably a good book for me.
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This is basically true, although there are some out there who I know are bound to disagree.
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Read in March, 2009
I think this book is a must for every girl that is starting to think that math isn't important, isn't for girls, or perhaps thinks she isn't "good at math."
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Danica McKellar does a really good job of helping you understand, then teaching you short cuts. :)
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Fiona sez, "This book doesn't suck." So I'm all for it. Of her own accord, she broke out paper and pencil and worked examples, and asked me to set her more problems. Even though she says, "I've never had a crush on anyone!" she doesn't seem to find the girly talk too girly, but then she's always been pretty accepting of girls with girly interests despite not being one of them.
We may actually pony up Actual Cash Money for our own copy, as this one needs to go ba...more
We may actually pony up Actual Cash Money for our own copy, as this one needs to go ba...more
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